What Is Karma?

The mind is the only perception, and perception is movement in consciousness. The expression of this movement is action ( Karma ), followed by fruition (ਫਲ).

In other words, there is no division between the mind and action (Karma). Before it’s projected as action it arises in the mind. Hence, Karma is nothing but the movement of energy in consciousness and ultimately bears its own fruit (ਫਲ). Baabaa Nanak says:

Whatever the mind thinks of, the organs of action strive to materialize. Hence, again, the mind is Karma (action). When such action comes to an end, the mind also comes to an end.

When the mind ceases to be, there is no action! Such mind is called “conquered, annihilated, killed…” mind in the Gurbani. Conquering the mind or the world (Jagat or Sansaar) simply means to go beyond one’s own worldly consciousness or material nature (i.e., Manmukh-nature, Saakat-nature, Mayadhaaree-nature…). In other words, when the mind sees itself as Jot-Saroop, the material world (Jagg or Jagat) is said to have been conquered! This victory brings Eternal Bliss (Aanand), Peace, Happiness, release from the reactionary actions…

ਮਨੁ ਜੀਤੇ ਜਗੁ ਜੀਤਿਆ ਜਾਂ ਤੇ ਬਿਖਿਆ ਤੇ ਹੋਇ ਉਦਾਸੁ ॥੨॥: Conquering the mind is (as if) the world is conquered, (because, only by conquering the mind, one can remain) detached from Maya. (sggs 1103).

But, what is mind? In deluded (agitated, restless) state, when the mind is veiled by doubt (Bharam), ignorance, etc., the same consciousness views diversity and identifies as such, it’s known as the mind. In nutshell, the mind is just thoughts-stuff (Phurne-ਫੁਰਨੇ). In other words, Karma is no other then one’s Soch (thinking).

When the mind is firmly established in the conviction of a certain perception it is known as intellect (Budhi).

Also, when the the mind ignorantly and foolishly identifies itself as existent separate individual, it is known as egotism (Haumai). When it abandons unbroken spiritual inquiry (Shabad-Vichaar…), allows itself to play with countless thoughts (Phurne) coming and going, it is known as individualized consciousness.

Thus, when Infinite Consciousness in a moment of self-forgetfulness viewed itself as the object of perception, countless concepts arise. Our lives are full of concepts. If we like particular concepts, we pass them on to others around us or ram them down their throat.

Our activities arising from the false concepts are also false. If the cause (i.e., false ego or Haumai) is wrong, then the effect must be automatically wrong as well.

To the contrary, when it acts in divided consciousness (independent doer or Haumai – ego), such action is known as “Karma”. This vision of division is the product of ignorance. With countless manifestations, such tainted mind punishes itself by its own tendencies and restlessly “wanders in the ten directions” (“ਧਾਇਓ ਰੇ ਮਨ ਦਹ ਦਿਸ ਧਾਇਓ ॥”).

To put it otherwise, when the mind is conscious of the truth (Sach-ਸਚ), it’s established in Wisdom (Aatam-Giaan, Dharma…). On the other hand, when it moves in the wrong direction towards greater forgetfulness (of its Mool) and deeper involvement in fancies, then becomes tainted or impure.

In other words, it’s the same mind that can take one to his Mool (Source, Jot…), and it’s the same mind that can take one away from his Mool too! Clearly, the mind is responsible for our material bondage, as well as our Liberation from it. Trapped in bondage (Maya, Bikaar…), we do not let go Haumai (false ego-sense) and its devastating faults ( lust, greed, anger, etc).

The ocean at depth is calm and quiet. However, violent waves arise at its surface due to disturbance created by the wind. Stronger the wind, stronger the disturbance and higher the waves at the surface. If there is no wind, there will be no waves. Similarly, mind is nothing but waves on the surface of the Ocean of Pure Awareness (Mool).

Disturbance or waves created by Maya (illusion) subside when there is no confusion between Reality and appearance!

Thanks T.Singh Veerji and Prakash S Bagga Veerji
for your kind replies over my above stated doubt, in continuation to the discussion, I want to more elaborate my doubt to get its full flash resolve.
Bhai Saabji, I am getting confused with the word free will of performing actions/any karma, free will says we are free to perform our desired actions, but this is not true every time as I asked in my above comment in many circumstances in our life we want to do some good things may be for society or for our personal relatives (father, mother, sister or anyone who are in need) but we are not able to do so (due to our own limitations social, financial, or any other personal) and we feel our hands are bound to perform good deeds/karma or actions, then WHO is responsible for that as again these are external factors which are holding us to perform good Karmas and similarly we all should accept and say this also that sometimes we go to do some good but happens something bad.
WHY is this so, as this cannot be our Free Will, and if we are not able to perform our actions freely then how they are labelled as Good or Bad as I am acting always under effect of some external cosmic power.

I am having much Respect and Shraddha for Gurbani as it is the true Light in Universe.
But these real life questions deviates me many times and I got confused again and again with my small mind.

Please try to understand the intent behind my question as in words we cannot explain the complete emotions.
Looking for reply from everyone who finds its answer useful.

If kill somebody, I cannot tell judge that God told me to do so. Can I? That will be a total nonsense. If I do misdeed, I must regret it later (“ਪਛੁਤਾਣੀ- Pachhutaanee” ). So, I better not kill somebody!

For my personal answer to your inquiry (instead of repeating myself), my suggestion is please re-read my article again and also all my replies again. Everything you read on this site is based on my understanding of the Gurbani.

If you still have doubt, my conviction is one should read Gurbani himself, and try to understand its deeper meaning — NOT SUPERFICIAL meaning. When we understand the true meanings of the Gurbani, it stretches the mind and opens it up.

Sat Sri Akal T.Singh Ji
Sir , I am having a great doubt in my small mind/soch regarding our Karma/Actions. Sir everyone says perform good deeds (actions) to achieve joy/fruits in life, my question is ‘Is performing good deeds/actions or karma in our hands solely or it too get affected by some external power (God), reason behind the doubt is that our actions in daily life are mostly influenced by our life situations (halaat) like family circumstances where we born either rich or poor, our father, mother attitudes towards life, our brother, sister, spouse, what kind of work (dhandhaa) we do and so many such factors which are completely out of our control as we have not got our mother, father, family rich or poor by choice, we got it from God’s wish and that has a direct impact on our present life actions, then how can we are sole responsible to perform Good or Bad Karma/Actions?
Sir hope you are understanding my doubt. Please guide.

So, Bhagat Kabeer Sahib reminds us that “Whatever is done, is done by the mind” (“ਜੋ ਕਿਛੁ ਕੀਆ ਸੋ ਮਨ ਕੀਆ”). For the entire universe is within the mind! Thus, when the mind knowingly commits mistakes, then it reaps the fruit of its own Karma! In other words: Whatever is in the Mind Comes Forth.
• ਕਬੀਰ ਮਨੁ ਜਾਨੈ ਸਭ ਬਾਤ ਜਾਨਤ ਹੀ ਅਉਗਨੁ ਕਰੈ ॥ ਕਾਹੇ ਕੀ ਕੁਸਲਾਤ ਹਾਥਿ ਦੀਪੁ ਕੂਏ ਪਰੈ ॥੨੧੬॥: O Kabir! The mind knows everything and knowingly it commits demerits. What use is it to have a Lamp (i.e., the Light of Aatam Giaan, Divine Knowledge, Spiritual Wisdom…) in his hand, if the man still falls into a well (ignorance, Maya, Bikaar, ਅਉਗਨ / ਬਿਕਾਰਾਂ ਦੇ ਖੂਹ ਵਿਚ…)? (sggs 1376).

So, the Gurbani tells us that the man himself is responsible for this calamity – he cannot blame anybody else for it. We harvest exactly what we sow in the field (“Khet“) of life or body. Simply put: Man tears up his own roots.
• ਜੋ ਮੈ ਕੀਆ ਸੋ ਮੈ ਪਾਇਆ ਦੋਸੁ ਨ ਦੀਜੈ ਅਵਰ ਜਨਾ ॥: Whatever I did, for that I have suffered; I don’t blame anyone else (sggs 433).
• ਪਾਇ ਕੁਹਾੜਾ ਮਾਰਿਆ ਗਾਫਲਿ ਅਪੁਨੈ ਹਾਥਿ ॥੧੩॥: ||13|| An imprudent (senseless, inattentive, stupid, ਲਾ-ਪਰਵਾਹ…) strikes his own foot with the axe by his own hand ((ਭਾਵ, ਆਪਣਾ ਨੁਕਸਾਨ ਆਪ ਹੀ ਕਰ ਲਿਆ). ||13|| (sggs 1365).
• ਜੇਹੀ ਸੁਰਤਿ ਤੇਹਾ ਤਿਨ ਰਾਹੁ ॥: As is (beings’) awareness, so is (their) way (sggs 25).
• ਆਪਿ ਬੀਜਿ ਆਪੇ ਹੀ ਖਾਇ ॥: As we plant, so we harvest and eat (sggs 25).

The Gur-Shabad you quoted above gives us an inspiration (impetus, ਪਰੇਰਣਾ) to abide by the Law Of Nature (HUKAM, BHAANAA…). In other words it’s giving an impetus (ਪਰੇਰਣਾ) to become Hukamee Bandaa (ਹੁਕਮੀ ਬੰਦਾ)!

• ਮਮਾ ਮਨ ਸਿਉ ਕਾਜੁ ਹੈ ਮਨ ਸਾਧੇ ਸਿਧਿ ਹੋਇ ॥: MAMMA: (The mortal’s real purpose or business of life) is with his own mind; (and that purpose or business) is to discipline or control his mind; by doing so, Spiritual Understanding (Soojh or Samajh of the Formless or Niraakaar…) is obtained (and thus life’s real purpose is realzed). (sggs 342).

Veerje, To put it otherwise, when the mind is conscious of the truth (Sach-ਸਚ), it’s established in Wisdom (Aatam-Giaan, Dharma…). On the other hand, when it moves in the wrong direction towards greater forgetfulness (of its Mool) and deeper involvement in fancies, then becomes tainted or impure…………is this direction of mind has any thing to do with, the vital breath (prana) ?

The SGGS (Sri Guru Granth Sahib) says that “We are human beings of one breath”. That is, our “ਮੁਹਲਤਿ” (ਮਿਆਦ or duration) is just one breath. In other words, the length of a human’s life can best be measured by the breath.
• ਹਮ ਆਦਮੀ ਹਾਂ ਇਕ ਦਮੀ ਮੁਹਲਤਿ ਮੁਹਤੁ ਨ ਜਾਣਾ ॥: We are human beings of one breath and we do not know the duration (term, limit, etc., of our life) and the moment of our departure (i.e., death). (sggs 660).

So without breadth human life ends:
• ਸਾਸਿ ਗਇਐ ਕਾਇਆ ਢਲਿ ਪਾਇ ॥: When the breath is taken away, the body crumbles into dust (sggs 1256).

My understanding is that the Gurbani speaks at the level of the mind. And, according to the Gurbani, our mind in its True Nature is “Joti Saroop-ਜੋਤਿ ਸਰੂਪੁ” — the true image or true state of the Divine prior to the movement of the false ego-sense (Haume).

Having said that, the entire Gurbani Glorifies the Divine Glory (ਜਸ).

This is “ਮਾ ਜਸੋਧ-Maa Jasod” ~ Divine Wisdom of the Gurbani, Giaan of the Gurbani, Bibek-Budh (discriminating intellect) of the Gurbani…

This is what our mind/soul (Jeev) is supposed to take and eat from the Gurbani.

This will become more clear by considering the words that follows “ਮਾ ਜਸੋਧ-Maa Jasod ” — “ਦਹੀ ਭਾਤੁ ਖਾਹਿ ਜੀਉ-Dahee bhaatu khaai jeeou”

And, again, according to the Gurbani, what are we supposed to do with this “ਭੋਜਨ-Bhojan” (Food), which is Niraakaare (formless)? The Gurbani’s answer is that our mind/soul is supposed to eat this Niraakaaree Food!!

The SGGS also indicates that the One who ordains is also sitting within everyone!!
So the Gurbani demands: Help yourself to realize the Ultimate Purpose of the human life.
For example, if I am hungry, I have to eat food myself. I cannot ask someone else to eat food for me.
Similarly, if I want to get married, I cannot substitute someone else to take the ” Phere” for me. I have to do it myself.
Similarly, if one wants to realize his Mool (i.e., the purpose of life), one has to do it himself. Accordingly, the Gurbani Teaches us that one has to resolve his own affair of his own life himself, through his own efforts (Shabad-Vichaar to obtain the Amrit of the Divine Wisdom of the Gur-Shabad…). Thus the Gurbani’s Divine Wisdom (Brahm Giaan) not only makes man Hari-like but also avers that this great privilege has got its own severe responsibilities!
• ਆਪਣ ਹਥੀ ਆਪਣਾ ਆਪੇ ਹੀ ਕਾਜੁ ਸਵਾਰੀਐ ॥੨੦॥: (So long there is breath — Praan) With own hands (with effort, ਉੱਦਮ ਕਰ ਕੇ: Shabad-Vichaar …), resolve your own affair yourself. ||20|| (sggs 474).
• ਜੋ ਪ੍ਰਭੁ ਖੋਜਹਿ ਸੇਈ ਪਾਵਹਿ ਹੋਰਿ ਫੂਟਿ ਮੂਏ ਅਹੰਕਾਰੀ ॥੨੦॥: Those who seek Mool (within, only …), they obtain Him (within themselves); others die fragmented (i.e., without Uniting with their Mool) in their egotism. ||20|| (sggs 911).
• ਆਪੈ ਜਪਹੁ ਆਪਨਾ ਜਾਪ ॥੫॥: Aapai japahu aapanaa jaap (sggs 343).
• ਜਿਨੀ ਨਾਮੁ ਧਿਆਇਆ ਗਏ ਮਸਕਤਿ ਘਾਲਿ ॥: Jinee Naamu dhiaaiaa … (sggs 8).

Thank you for your extensive reply.
The words from Kabeer Ji are very inspiring to me:
Kabeer, go out to meet the holy man; do not take anyone else with you.
Do not turn back – keep on going. Whatever will be, will be. (SGGS, 1370)

Thanks FD Ji for taking the time to respond! Welcome to the Gurbani Blog!

In this day, this is a most timely observation.

The fact is that the Gurbani observed this truth centuries ago!! But unfortunately, the most of the people who run Gurdwaras, the priest-class, exponents, etc., are not interested in bringing out the truth of the Gurbani. For their main interest is making money (Golak)!

ਕਰਮ ਕਰਤ ਹੋਵੈ ਨਿਹਕਰਮ ॥ ਤਿਸੁ ਬੈਸਨੋ ਕਾ ਨਿਰਮਲ ਧਰਮ ॥ ਕਾਹੂ ਫਲ ਕੀ ਇਛਾ ਨਹੀ ਬਾਛੈ ॥ ਕੇਵਲ ਭਗਤਿ ਕੀਰਤਨ ਸੰਗਿ ਰਾਚੈ ॥ (Raag Gauri M. 5, GGS. 274-7): Performing good deeds, he does not seek rewards. Spotlessly pure is the religion of such a Vaishnaav; He has no desire for the fruits of his labors. He is absorbed in devotional worship and the singing of Kirtan, the songs of the Lord’s Glory.